Quote:
Originally Posted by BossChief
1) all players play through pain. Its part of the game.
2) what games did we not get a pass rush in? It could always get better, but it was good every week. Hali never disappeared. Ever. He just got held every play. Houston should get around 8 sacks and balance the pass rush and enable Hali to take the next step in his career.
I think Hali can get 18-20 sacks if things fall into place next year and we add a good NT.
If you watch tape of Houston and Woodley, you will see somewhat similar players...Woodley being better against the run.
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I purposely point to Hali because he is probably put on the probable/questionable list more than most players with consistent starting records. He seems to have some kind of foot problem, because it always seems to be the culprit. No, it's not something I see as career threatening, but clearly the guy could use a snap or two off every once in a while.
A good NT is going to help Hali. But it doesn't do you any good if the QB is free to roll to the right every time. Houston could help, but then again, maybe not.
As for our pass rush, definitely several games. Hali is a good pass rusher, but I don't know that anyone would really call him elite. He's a guy who gets amazing production in spurts, and then disappears in others. San Diego had their way with us on pass offense their two games, and Oakland wasn't scared of our pass rush either. And it's no secret that our 3rd down pass defense is atrocious, and that's not because we have bad players in the secondary. Some of that is because Hali doesn't have any kind of help. A Nose Tackle is going to help push the pocket into the QB, but it doesn't change the fact that the next best pass rusher outside of Hali last year was our nickel corner. Our 3 D-linemen aren't pass rushers. Our 2 ILBs are adequate at the very best. We're basically relying on Houston to pick up the slack.
Next year, we dont' have the benefit of rolling over the NFC West and a bunch of bottom-feeders. I'm more worried about consistently getting a pass rush on guys like Philip Rivers. I think even if we walk in with vast improvement from a Nose Tackle, if Houston is anything short of "good", top QBs could easily walk over us.